Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Southern Sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae

Listing Status:   

Where Listed: WHEREVER FOUND

General Information

Sea Otters are about four feet long and weigh an average of 65 pounds for males and 45 pounds for females. They’ve got strong canines and strong molars to tear and crush their food. Their lung capacity is 2.5 times the size of land mammals of the same size. They have good eyesight and use their whiskers to sense vibrations in the water. They’re known for the use of tools when eating. Because they love mollusks, sea otters will use rocks as hammers and anvils to help open the shells. Because they have no blubber, they must eat 25% of their body weight in food to maintain their high metabolism. Grooming is important as it forces air bubbles into their fur that acts as insulation (Friends of the Sea Otter).

Map of Species occurrence

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Map Image Map of Species occurrence Map of Species occurrence

This map represents our best available information about where a species is currently known to or or is believed to occur; however, it should NOT be used as an official species list for Section 7 Consultation purposes. To obtain an official species list for this purpose, please visit the Information, Planning, and Conservation (IPaC) System (click here: http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac)



This species is listed wherever it is found, but
    • States/US Territories in which the Southern Sea otter, is known to or is believed to occur:  California
    • US Counties in which the Southern Sea otter, is known to or is believed to occur:  View All
    • Countries in which the the Southern Sea otter, is known to occur:  Mexico
Current Listing Status Summary
Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
01/14/1977 California/Nevada Region (Region 8) Entire

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 15: view all)
Date Citation Page Title
12/19/2012 77 FR 75265 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Termination of the Southern Sea Otter Translocation Program; Final Rule
11/14/2012 77 FR 67302 67303 Sea Otter Translocation Program; Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the Translocation of Southern Sea Otters
11/09/2012 77 FR 67302 67303 Termination of the Southern Sea Otter Translocation Program; Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the Translocation of Southern Sea Otters
08/26/2011 76 FR 53381 53396 Termination of the Southern Sea Otter Translocation Program; Proposed rule and notice of availability
03/25/2009 74 FR 12878 12883 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
Most Recent Special Rule Publications (Showing 1 of 1)
Date Citation Page Title
09/27/1988 53 FR 37577 37581 NOAA--Technical Amendments to Sea Otter Translocation Regulations; 53 FR 37577-37581

» Action Plans

Action Plans (Showing 1 of 1)
Date Title
09/27/2009 Southern sea otter Spotlight Species Action Plan

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
04/03/2003 Final Revised Recovery Plan for the Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) View Implementation Progress Final Revision 1
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 4 of 4)
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
11/04/2011 76 FR 68393 68394 Termination of the Southern Sea Otter Translocation Program; Revised Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the Translocation of Southern Sea Otters: Proposed rule; notice of availability and reopening of public comment period
  • Notice Doc. Availability
  • Notice Reopen Comment
  • 03/25/2009 74 FR 12878 12883 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
  • 04/03/2003 68 FR 16305 16306 Notice of Availability of the Final Revised Recovery Plan for the Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis)
  • Notice Final Recovery Plan Availability
  • 02/08/2000 65 FR 6221 6222 Notice of Availability of a Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) for Review and Comment
  • Notice Recovery Plan Avail.
  • » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the Southern Sea otter, .

    » Conservation Plans

    No conservation plans have been created for Southern Sea otter,

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 4 of 4)
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    02/06/2004 69 FR 5861 5863 90-day Finding on a Petition to Delist the Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis)
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial
  • 07/13/1984 49 FR 28583 28585 Notice of Finding on 6 Petitions; 49 FR 28583-28585
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Not warranted
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial
  • 06/14/1983 48 FR 27273 27274 Findings on Certain Petitions; 48 FR 27273-27274
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial
  • 02/15/1983 48 FR 6752 675 Findings on Certain Petitions and Reviews of Status for Several Species; 48 FR 6752-6753
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial
  • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: June 19, 2013